Vicegrip & Sap's Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike
Oats and Olive disappeared 3 miles from Springer, and Vicegrip and Sap were born. Every day is an adventure unknown until the moment we live it. We'll be updating this site when we get access to a computer in a trail town, which we hope won't be too often, or we'll never get to Katahdin! Thanks so much for following, and for all the Trail Magic we've already stumbled upon. I figured out how to enable comments, so please leave us a message at the end of a post. We would love to hear from you!
Stiles keep cows contained and hikers moving, but not always gracefully. The pink curly ribbon on my pack I bought in Pearisburg to remind me that every day, especially every day on the trail, is a gift, a present. Not enjoying it is a waste of freedom.
This philosophy becomes difficult to embrace when your arches are so tender with inflammation that you could just cry, when your mouth is so dry with thirst that you start running toward hope of a stream, when your eyes are so cross-eyed with gnats that you hit yourself hard on the nose. But you just remember: This too shall pass. Climb over the obstacle, hold onto your dignity unless you really just must whine, and soon enough it will be forever behind you.
Sometimes I think how wonderful it is that I will never have to take that step I just took ever again. Other times I feel sad about the same reality. So the only answer is to be at peace with the present and the time that passes and constantly changes that present. So the gift, all wrapped in pink curly ribbon, is simply the present, whatever it may be.
The moment we met Goat (Nate) on Blood Mountain back in March in Georgia, he told us two things: he loves steak, and his girl was coming to visit at the end of May. The man doesn’t lie.
We loved meeting the vivacious Margaret and seeing the two of them so happy together. We’re excited they asked us to play music for their wedding, date not yet chosen. Sounds like a chance for a trail reunion and an opportunity to revisit Massachusetts! First, though, we have to walk there.
Mama Skillet (Jill) and Skillet (Vincent) thrilled us with their presence when we finally emerged from the woods on Route 60 after the excrutiating 80 or so mile stretch between Daleville and Buena Vista / Lexington. What a welcome surprise after 5 days of relentless heat, bugs, foot pain, and the epiphanies and views that make it all worthwhile.
One great way to get to know someone: hike 600 miles together. Vicegrip and I had parted ways with Skillet, Goat, and Perch at Woods Hole when they went back down south to Trail Days while we recovered from colds and kept hiking north, but we had faith that the trail would reunite us. Sure enough, a few of us found each other again for a delightful but too short 24 hours together at the idyllic Brierly Hill Bed and Breakfast and Country Inn in Lexington.
We’re so glad Jill drove all the way to Florida to hike a few days with her son. Some people you just love, and then you can’t help but loving their awesome moms.
We were thrilled to take a long break early in the day when our path led us to this jolly crew. Boomer, Squatch, and Yukon were meeting their friends Levi, who hiked the AT 12 years ago, and Amy, a potter, for a Bluegrass Festival. First, we had to have our own festival, complete with Georgia peaches, PBR, and a mandolin, violin, and guitar. Hope we can play again, Levi!
About Us
We're excited to chronicle our 2012 thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Beginning on March 4, feet-willing, we will trek across 2,180 miles and 14 states, from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. The journey will take about 6 months and every ounce of strength and every shred of insanity we possess. Thank you for visiting, and come back soon!
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